Pumping unit



Dec. 3, 1935. Q WELLS ET AL 2,023,039

PUMPING UNIT Filed July 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l abtormug Dec. 3, 1935.E. c. WELLS El AL PUMPING UNIT Filed July 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Dec. 3, 1935 'Ui iiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMPING UNI'J.v

Edward 0. Wells and Albert H; Krn'er;

Dayton,

Application July 16, 1931, siiai No. 551,177

4 Claims.

This invention relates to self-contained pump and power units, and moreparticularly to such a unit comprising a pump and a prime movertherefor, which unit is portable.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of acompact self-contained engine driven unit ofsimple and ruggedconstruction, having high operating eiiiciency, and which is capable ofwithstanding the deteriorating'efiects of rough and continued service.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pumping unit whichis readily portable, and which may be satisfactorily operated eitherwhen standing on its base or when suspended, as from the hook of thelifting crane.

A-further object of the invention is the provision of a pumping unit inwhich the various parts are coordinated as to design so as to readilyfit together into a rigid assembly for eifective operation; the majorparts of the unit being arranged so as to overlie and protect fromdamage the operating mechanism attached to and forming part of thepumping unit.

In the drawings, which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention-Figs. 1 and 2 are elevational views of a pumping unit constructed inaccordance with this invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pumping unit;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line l l of Fig. 2; H V

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the bottom side of the .fuel tank; a portionbeing broken away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the pumping unit with carrying truckattached; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the priming pump.

The drawings, in which like characters of ref erence designate likeparts throughout the several views thereof, illustrate a self-containedengine driven operating unit. The engine driven work device is shown anddescribed as a pump for lifting or pumping water or the like, althoughobviously the work device may be of a difierent character. The unitcomprises generally a work device or pump Ill, pump driving means H inthe form of an internal combustion engine, and a connecting member l2which is attached to the pump and engine to hold these parts in fixedspaced relationship. A base structure l4 serves to support the pumpingunit from the floor with the pump and engine standing vertically relatedto one another. Additional supporting means are pr vided n the fo mer asus e am 15 by which the complete pumping unit may be lifted bodily formoving it around as from a cranehook, or forsuspension of the unit whilepumping The unit may be readily attached to 5 a carrying truck, suchasis shown in Fig. 7, in which a truck has been backed up to the pump andhas the draw bartilted upwardly to permit insertionof lower attachingbolts l4' between the truck frame and the pump base l4. Upon at- 10tachment of hook bolts I 5 to the suspension frame IS the pump may beraised from the ground by lowering the draw bar of the truck.

The engine I I comprises a crankcase [6 which has formed as an integralpart thereof a bearing sleeve IT for the reception of a bearing bushingl8 within which the vertically extending crank shaft I5 is journaled.The crank case l6 also has attached to it oppositely positionedhorizontally extendingv cylindersjll within which are fitted pistons 2|having connecting rods 22 which are attached to the" crank throws 23 ofthe crank shaftlB. The engine is: preferably of the two cylinder twocycle type and is arranged so that the cylinders fire simultaneously. 25

A fuel tank 24 is mount ed above the engine. This tank ispreferablyformed as a casting and is of substantial proportion'. It is: shown ofringlike shape and is mounted coaxially with the crank shaft. A tubeislprovided for the passage of fuel from the fuel tank 24' to thecarbureter 25. The carburetor is bolte d to the engine crank case incommunication with ducts leading to the interior of the crank case andterminating in openings positioned at the inner ends of the cylinders soas to be uncovered upon outward movement of the pistons 21'. Gaseousfuel from the carbureter is drawn into the crank case as the pistonsmove outwardly and is' then compressed therein upon r verse movement ofthe pistons. As the pistons reach the end of the inward stroke theyuncover the openings of passages 26 leading from the crank case to thecylinder interiors to permit the compressed charge of fuel to flowthereinto. At this same time the exhaust 4 ports 21 areopen'by; beinguncovered by the pistonsso that theburnedg'ases of a previous powerimpulse may pass from the cylinders through the exhaust stacks 28int'othe muffi'er 29 and be discharged through the exhaust pipe 39. Aspark plug 32 is provided in each cylinder for ignition of the gaseouscharge; each plug being connected by a cable 33' to a coil 34 which iselectrically connected to an energizing circuit. A battery supplies thenecessary current and is carried in a container 35 which is shownsuspended from the frame E5.

The battery circuit is interrupted by a circuit breaking mechanismcomprising a contact arm 36 which is pivotally mounted on an axisparallel to the crank shaft axis and is spring tensioned to bear againstthe crank shaft surface. On the crank shaft is a fiat portion providinga cam face 31 so that upon each rotation thereof the contact arm 36 willbe moved by its spring to interrupt the circuit in proper timed relationto the positioning of the pistons. The contact arm is of conventionalform and has a fiber block which bears against the crank shaft surfaceby being tensioned thereagainst. In order to prevent undue wear betweenthe contacting surfaces of the fiber block and the crank shaft a hardsmooth surface is provided on the crank shaft by electroplating asurface layer of chromium thereon. The crank shaft is of such size thatit presents a difficult problem of handling to properly harden thecamming surface by heat treatment and to subsequently grind this surfaceto provide the de sired smoothness. The surface layer of chromiumapplied thereto by electro-plating presents a simple and effective meansof acquiring a hard surface of sufficient depth to withstand the rubbingcontact of the tensionedcircuit breaker.

The upper end of the crank shaft i9 is tapered as shown at 46 and isprovided with a key ii to receive the hub of a fiy wheel 42. To permitstarting of the engine the fly wheel is provided with the annular ropereceiving groove 43 wherein a length of rope may be wrapped to rotatethe engine by a pull on the rope. The groove has a notch 44 forengagement of the rope end. The spokes 45 which extend to the fly wheelrim 45 are positioned in the form of an fan blades to direct a flow ofcooling air over the cylinders which are provided with cooling ribs 48.The cylinders are enclosed in jackets 49 by which the cooling air fromthe fan is directed over the cylinders.

The fly wheel 42 is shown mounted Within the confines of the ring shapedfuel tank 24 which is bolted at 50 to a flange 5| extending from thebearing sleeve I! of the crank case. The fuel tank is provided withpassages for directing the flow of cooling air from the fan into thecylinder enclosing jackets 49. As shown, the inner cylindrical wall 53of the fuel tank closely encircles the rim 45 of the fly wheel.Oppositely positioned air conducting passages 54 of volute shape areformed in the fuel tank and have semi-circular openings 55 whichcommunicate with the space adjacent the fiy wheel. At the lower wall 5?of the fuel tank the passages 54 communicate with the cylinder jackets49 through openings 58. Each jacket has an upstanding flange 58 similarin outline to the corresponding opening 58 and is proportioned tocontact with and be attached to the frames 6| which define the openings58. Outlets for the cooling air from the jackets are provided byopenings 63 which are positioned at the point of attachment of theexhaust stacks 28 with the cylinders. Also, each jacket is provided withan opening 64 for the spark plug.

The end of the crank case opposite to that upon which the bearing sleeveI1 is formed is open and is provided with a cylindrical machined surface66 and an adjacent disk like machined face 61 for reception of the upperend 68 of the connecting member I2 which forms a closure for the opencrank case end. The connecting member end 68 is provided with a bearingsleeve II! within which is fitted a bearing bushing II for furthersupport of the crank shaft IS. The end portion 68 is provided withmachined surfaces I2 and I3 which match with the surfaces 536 and 5'] ofthe crank case. As the bearing sleeve If is machined relatively to thecrank case surfaces 523 and 61 and the bearing sleeve I0 is machinedrela tively to the surfaces I2 and 13 the two bearing sleeves I8 and "IIwill stand perfectly aligned for proper support of the crank shaft.Bolts 15 attach the connecting member I2 and the crank case I6 rigidlytogether.

The opposite end I! of the connecting member I2 is provided with abearing sleeve for the reception of a bearing bushing F9 for further support of the crank shaft I9. This end of the connecting member, like theend 68, is also provided with a cylindrical machined surface 88 and anadjacent disk like machined surface 8! which match respectively withmachined surfaces 82 and 83 of the casing 85 of the pump til so that thepump casing, like the crank case, is also properly aligned with respectto the crank shaft carried in the bearings of the connecting member. Thecrank shaft extends beyond the end of the connecting member and into theconfines of the pump casing 85 for attachment of a pump impeller 87which is shown held thereon by provision of a key 88 and a nut 89. Asuction fitting 99 is shown bolted to the inlet side of the pump, whilea suitable bolting ring 92 is formed at the discharge end of the pumpfor the attachment of pipes.

A hearing for sustaining the thrust loads of both the engine and thepump, as well as additional support for the crank shaft, is provided bythe single thrust bearing 94 which is supported from the connectingmember I2. As shown, an antifriction bearing 95 is mounted on the shaftI9 and is clamped against a shaft shoulder 96 by means of a nut 91 whichengages a threaded portion 98 of the shaft. The antifriction bearing 95is supported from an annular ring IUD, forming part of the connectingmember I2, by provision of cup shaped housing plates IOI which areclamped to the ring I09 by bolts I52. The housing plates IBI standfacing opposite to one another and are provided with machined surfaceswhich engage the outer race of the bearing 95. Accurate positioning ofthe thrust bearing, which serves to locate the crank shaft with re spectto the engine and pump, is secured by machining the engine and pumpengaging surfaces of the connecting member ends 63 and TI relatively tothe surfaces of the ring I80 to which the thrust bearing housing platesIllI are attached. The single shaft which extends throughout the lengthof the unit and has the fly wheel attached at one end, and the pumpimpeller attached at the other end, and which includes also the crankthrows as well as the cam face for energizing the ignition system, isrigidly and accurately supported for free rotational movement by theinterfitting machined parts carrying the bearings I8, II, 95 and IS.

The base structure I4 comprises a framework fabricated from structuraliron and consists generally of two U-shaped frames III) of angle ironwhich are bolted at III to the connecting member I2. The legs of theoppositely positioned frames are connected by cross members H2. The legsare of sufficient length to permit the suction fitting 9!! attached tothe bottom of the pump to stand clear of the floor level.

The suspension frame I5 by which the unit may be lifted bodily from thefloor comprises 'parallel horizontally extending members II4 of angleiron which are bolted at I I5 to the connecting member I2. The membersII4 are spaced apart a distance equal to the thickness of the connectingmember I2 and are joined at their outer ends by cross members IIIS whichare held to the members I I4 by provision of through bolts H1. Themembers IIB are formed each as a series of annular ridges H8 and groovesH9, and each has loosely mounted upon it a ring I of sufficient diameterthat it may be moved along its member IIB over the ridges IIB. Theserings serve as a means of attachment for lifting hooks which, forexample, may be attached to an overhead crane or some other suitablemeans of suspending the pumping unit. The provision of the series ofspaced grooves permits a selective positioning of the rings I 28 so thatthe pumping unit may be lifted in balance irrespective of the weight ofthe pump piping which may be 'attached to it and tending to cause theunit to be tilted. As the unit of itself is substantially balanced, whenlifting the unit alone the rings I20 will be positioned diametricallyopposite one another so that the pump unit will then hang in suspensionwith the shaft axis standing vertically. With a length of hose attachedto the suction and discharge fittings of the pump any tendency to causethe unit to tilt when suspended may be counteracted by moving the ringsI23 to the proper groove to provide a balancing of the weight suspended.

The arrangement of the major parts of the pumping unit is such that theoperating mechanism attached to the pumping unit, such as thecarbureter, the ignition coil, the mufiler, and the battery box, areprotected from damage. The major parts overlie these portions of theoperating mechanism and so provide a' protecting guard whereby theseparts may not be damaged by being struck or bumped during use of thepump. The fuel tank 24, as mentioned above, is circular in form and, asshown particularly in Fig. 3, extends out well beyond the positioning ofthe parts named above. The fuel tank by being bolted directly to thecrank case and by being formed as a casting of substantial strength, isable to withstand very rough usage while serving as an overlying guardfor these parts. Also, the suspension frame I5 serves as an additionalprotection in that its lateral extent is such as to: serve as a guardagainst damage to the cylinder jackets and parts projecting therefrom.

A priming pump I25 is attached to the casing 85 of the centrifugal pumpto provide the initial suction when it is desired to start the pump inoperation. The priming pump comprises a cylinder I 26 having an openbottom end upon which is formed a flange I 27 which serves also as abolting ring for the reception of screws I28 by which the priming pumpis held to the discharge or pressure side of the pump casing 85. Theflange I21 and screws I28 serve also as a means for clamping the suctionvalve I38 in position so that this valve may provide a closure for thepassage I3I communicating with the interior of the casing 85 and thepriming pump cylinder. The valve I3!) is in the form of a flexible diskhaving a rim portion I32 which is held between the flange I21 and thecasing 85, and a central portion I33 which is attached to the rimportion by a narrow neck so as to be readily removable upon creatingsuction within the priming pump. The valve portion I33 is stifiened by-provision of a disk I34 held thereto by means of a screw I35.

The priming pum'p piston rod I3'I has attached to its lower end a pistonplate I38 which serves as a support for a cup leather I39 having anupturned flange which engages the interior wall of ,5 the cylinder I 26.The opposite end of the rod I3! is provided with a handle I4I for manualoperation of the piston. The upper end of the cylinder I26 is closed bya cover plate I42 which is held in place by the screws I43. centralsleeve portion I44 which serves as a guide for the piston rod whichpasses therethrough. Means are provided so that during times that thepriming pump is not in use the piston rod may be held in clampedengagement with the suc- 1 5;

tion valve I so that this valve is positively maintained closed and noliquid from the pump I0 may then pass therethrough. To provide thisclamping action a portion of the piston rod toward the handle I 4|, andon the exterior side of the 20 suction valve and the sleeve is thenthreaded onto 30 the piston guide the piston will be held in clampedengagement with the suction valve. To prevent engagement of the sleevewith the threaded portion of the guide during operation of the primingpump piston, a spring is provided on the 3 piston rod which tends toforce the sleeve upwardly into a position which prevents its engagementwith the guide. The spring, indicated at I 53, is supported at one endupon a washer I54 carried by a cross pin I55 which extends through therod. The opposite end of the spring bears against the under side of thesleeve and forces it upwardly to a position limited by a second crosspin I56. An air escape opening I58 is provided in the upper end of thepriming pump cylinder so that during operation of the pump aircompressed thereby may readily escape. Positioning of the engine andpump vertically with respect to one another results in a compactassembly having small lateral dimensions so that the unit occupies but arelatively small amount of floor space when standing on its base, andwhich may be readily lowered into a pit of quite small diameter. Thearrangement of the pump unit is such that it is particularly suited forthe use of contractors and in construction work requiring a readilyportable unit of high pumping capacity and rugged construction whichwill continue to operate eificiently even though roughly handled.

While the form of apparatus herein described 60 constitutes a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-contained pumping unit comprising an internal combustionengine, a crank case therefor, said crank case comprising a shaftreceiving bearing and having an annular machined surface defining anopening in said crank case axially aligned with and spaced from saidbearing, a pump casing having an annular machined surface defining anopening therein, a one piece The plate I42 has a IQ of the 25;

member connecting said engine and pump in rigid spaced relationship,said connecting memher having annular machined surfaces at each endthereof receivable in close fitting relationship within the annularopenings of the crank case and pump assembly for alignment of the pumpand engine, a shaft receiving bearing positioned in said connectingmember adjacent each of said annular surfaces and concentrically relatedthereto, and a shaft extending from said engine crank case to said pumpcasing, said shaft being rotatably mounted in said shaft receivinbearings.

2. A self-contained pumping unit comprising an internal combustionengine and a rotary pump, a connecting member joining said engine andpump in vertically spaced relationship on a common axis, and means forsupporting the pumping unit in suspension comprising horizontallyrelated parallel members joined to the connecting member and extendingperpendicularly therefrom in both directions, end members extendingbetween and joining adjacent ends of the parallel members, said endmembers being parallel and on opposite sides of the connecting member,and means on the end members giving selective provisions for suspensionof the pumping unit on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry.

3. A self-contained pumping unit comprising an internal combustionengine and a rotary pump, a connecting member joining said engine andpump in vertically spaced relationship on a common axis, and means forsupporting the pumping unit in suspension comprising horizontallyrelated parallel members joined to the connecting member and extendingperpendicularly therefrom in both directions, end members 5 extendingbetween and joining adjacent ends of the parallel members, said endmembers being parallel and on opposite sides of the connecting member, aring loosely carried by each of said end members for attachment tolifting means, 10 each end member comprising a series of alternateridges and grooves, the ridges being of suflicient height to preventdisplacement of the ring from a selected groove upon application of alifting force. 16 4. A self-contained pumping unit comprising aninternal combustion engine and a rotary pump,

'a connecting member joining said engine and pump in axially spacedrelationship, means comprising horizontally related parallel members 20extending perpendicularly to the connecting member intermediate theengine and pump for attachment of suspension means, a base structureattached to the connecting member for support of the pumping unit withthe engine and 25 pump in vertically spaced relationship, and a wheeledframe detachably connected to the parallel members and to the base forsuspension of the pumping unit.

EDWARD o. WELLS.

ALBERT H. KRUER.

